I'd finished the upper lozenges and it was a magnificent mid-winter day and so the wing was fixed the model and outside in the sun! She looks fairly good but will be better with rib-tapes, crosses etc.

I did the 'right' thing and layed the pattern in alternating chord-wise directions and the ailerons span-wise. I think the fabric was used in whatever direction suited. The lower wing was fitted span-wise as the fabric was wide enough. That's my story and I'm stickin' with it

The rib tapes I'm making from strips of Oratex (Solartex equiv) pre-painted blue. Then the crosses can be painted over the tapes. The undersides are yet to be painted and then the LE and TE edges tidied up.

Pat,
it looks as though the rest of the world was wrong - and you and I were right ! It really is a surprisingly attractive aicraft despite its stubby shape. Your wonderful paint job also brings it to life in a way that the black and white originl photos cannot. I simply cannot wait to see the paint job completed and then a video of it flying.
Really inspiring stuff - many thanks.
Paul

With the lozenges finished to my satisfaction (but probably not everyone elses..) it was time to apply the prominent rib tapes. The colour is probably a bit dark but it's what I had in a spray can. A piece of Solartex was given a thin coat of blue and allowed to dry for a day or three while I finished the lozenges. This was cut into 5mm wide strips and ironed in place over the ribs. I used my fibreglass ironing cloth between the iron and the painted tapes - it helps stop any softened paint getting on the iron and adjacent surfaces.

When all was done, the ailerons were fitted and their hinges CAed in place. I'll add the horns and servo links then mask and spray a white background for the wing crosses.

It's not a beautiful job but I'm pleased enough, have learnt many techniques and to a non-expert, it looks the part

Hugh - just to keep you grumpy - I notice there are actually three different tape hues

After centreing the aileron servos using a servo tester (very handy), and clamping the ailerons at neutral, 16 swg wire was bent to form the links. I seldom use adjustable links - get it right first time and make any minor adjustments in the transmitter. The servo arms were positioned slightly forward to allow more up than down travel if differential is applied. Of course, all the above is rubbish if the servos are Y connected to a single channel whn things should be more accurately set up.

With ailerons in place, the cross outlines were masked out and the edges sprayed flat white, then when dry (or should have been!) narrow 6mm wide tape was applied to mask off the white borders and the rest sprayed flat black. Keen observers will note that while the crosses are the correct 4:5 size ratio, the arms are thicker than they should be - I'll get it right on the DVII!

Quite a bit of lifting of the white occurred when removing the tape and some touching up was needed. I shouldn't be in so much of a hurry.

With the top wing now done, it's back to the fuselage details - firstly a pair of Spandaus. I'm keeping them very simple scratch-builds as they are mostly hidden.

Hugh - I was really trying to make you grumpy by having used 3 coloured tapes - obviously it didn't work so will try harder

While I do have some Williams Spandau kits, they are reserved for the DVII so I will make a pair of VERY simple units for this DXI. The method is the same as I've used several times before and they will get their 'Spandauness' from the slotted cooling jacket - much simpler than a Vickers!

Using the williams kit as a size guide, some plain card was taped to the bench and a grid marked out on it. Then a series of small holes were punched using a brass tube and then cut into slots with the #11. After wrapping around a piece of tube and glued, they form a basic slotted jacket.

The breech blocks/recievers are simple blocks of scrap balsa grain-filled and sanded smooth. The barrels are lengths of plastic tube. When I've made the front and rear discs, the little guns can be assembled and painted - easy